Walking & Hiking

Walking & hiking at Cardrona is truly stunning, with 360 views at every turn! Take the lift & explore our walking trails for a true alpine adventure.

Sightseeing & walking at Cardrona lets you immerse yourself in a beautiful alpine environment at over 1800m above sea level! Breathe the fresh alpine air & take in the stunning 360-degree views of the Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu & Lake Hawea. You can choose between a gentle chairlift-assisted stroll from the top of McDougall's Chondola up to our viewing platform, or a more adventurous hike on our Captain’s Circuit alpine trails.

Cardrona is another great spot for a New Zealand day walk & unlike other famous walks in the region, you can catch a lift to the top leaving more time to explore! Make sure you bring plenty of water, sunscreen, sturdy footwear & clothing layers, as mountain conditions can change quickly. It's not uncommon to find a few spots of snow around the ridges so you may have the opportunity to build a snowman... in summer!

Our main walking trails at Cardrona this summer are:

• Captain’s Circuit from the top of the McDougall's Chondola out to Captain’s Basin & back (around 2–2.5hrs)
• Skyline/Afternoon Delight from the top of the McDougall's Chondola back down to the Base area (around 45 mins)

Make sure you check out our interpretive panels on your way around the mountain – they’re a great source of information about Southern Lakes & Central Otago history!